Cider Description:A balanced cider combining the natural acid and sugar of apples with the tart qualities of elderberries. Elderberries have been adding flare to hard cider for centuries. In fact, the 1822 book The American Orchardist suggests adding Elderberries to give cider “a fine colour as well as flavour.” Original Sin brings back this brilliant tradition with our new Elderberry Cider.

Cidery Description: Established in 1996, Original Sin is one of the original modern-day U.S. cider companies. With a mere $5,000 in funding, founder Gidon Coll began making cider in Upstate New York and spent two years going bar to bar in New York City to develop his early market base. Today, Original Sin is still 100% independent and now distributed in 32 U.S. States, The United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Japan.

Original Sin started a New York State test orchard five years ago, which now features over 100 rare, cider and contemporary apple varieties. Each year, the company adds interesting and historically significant varieties to the Original Sin orchard’s genetic pool.

Vanilla Bean Description:Washington apples meet real Madagascar vanilla, creating what is best described as an adult’s all natural cream soda. you don’t like sweet ciders??? Ok sure, try this.

Smoked Blueberry Description:Some people do not like smoked foods and drinks. Ok fine, stop reading. for those who do, this is comfort in a drink, blending apples, smoked over alder wood, with real blueberries, this is unexpected but amazing.

Cidery Description: My brother Patrick and I founded Locust Cider in March 2015 with the mission of making outstanding hard cider using the fruit that is most available in Washington- the eating apple. Washington growers produce 60% of the apples in the United States, and cider-specific varieties are in a major shortage, so we set out to put innovative spins on classic cider-making methods to bring out the best in the everyday apple.

Our delicious ciders begin with great fruit- we primarily use “cull” apples- those that are not pretty enough or are too small or large to make it to grocery stores, diverting these from destruction because their juice is still great! Our unique process then transforms them into great cider- methodical yeast selection, meticulous temperature control, slow aging, and creative and deliberate blending.

We are now made up a great small team: Chelsea, head cidermaker, Ryan, cellar manager, Shenna, tap room manager, Spring, events manager, and Chris, sales manager. We are a “family” passionate about cider, and we thank you for visiting our tasting room, and being part of our family! -Jason Spears, founder of locust cider

Their Woodinville cidery has a tap room.

Price: $7 eachWhere Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WAWhere Drank: homeHow Found: I tried these individually at Locust’s tap room awhile back, then at a tasting event I decided to try them mixed.

First Impression: Both nearly still (very low carbonation). The Vanilla Bean is a light straw yellow hue and the Smoked Blueberry is a bright purple-blue hue. The Vanilla Bean smells rather mild, just slightly sweet and of vanilla. The Smoked Blueberry is a bit more fragrant, smelling of blueberry with a hint of smoke.

My Opinion: On their own, although plenty good, I don’t find either of these too remarkable. The Vanilla Bean has a great flavor, but I find it a bit sweet to drink much of (although this batch is slightly less sweet than I’ve had before, but also slightly less flavorful). The Smoked Blueberry is nice, but pretty typical. However, mixed together, the result is a uniquely tasty.

Closing Notes: Combining ciders is a fun way to mix things up. I haven’t really got into cider cocktails, as to me, mixing cider with other beverages is something I would think of doing if I don’t like a cider (and have done actually).